Handbag frame with illuminating means



Aug. 26, 1958 N. REDMOND HANDBAG FRAME WITH ILLUMINATING MEANS Filed Sept. 23, 1955 INVENTOR. NATHAN REDMQND.

BY 7 4 M ATTORNEY.

HANDEAG FRAME WITH ILLUMINATING MEANS Nathan Redmond, Salford, England Application September 23, 1955, Serial No. 536,119

1 Claim. (Cl. 240-645) This invention relates to improvements in frames for handbags and the like and has for a principal object the provision of a handbag frame of superior construction and carrying means for illuminating the interior of any handbag or the like in which said frame is installed.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a handbag or the like, a hinged frame carrying illuminating means, simple means for holding a source of power, such as a battery, in an operative position wherein 11 13 operatively connected in a circuit with said illummating means and a switching means comprised of a switch actuated by the opening of a bag in which said frame is installed, and/or by separate switching means, said elements being sturdy, yet so simple that any person, even a child can easily change said battery and/or said illuminating means.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, upon a study of this specification and the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a hinged handbag frame constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the frame shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a plan view of my improved catch employed in the frame of Figures 1, 2 and 3; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged view of the plunger forming a part of the catch.

The handbag frame includes two U-shaped members and 11 which are hinged or otherwise joined together at their extremities by means of rivets 12. The members 10 and 11 are in the shape of a channel in crosssection, they are adapted to be moved toward or away from one another about the rivets 12, in a conventional manner, and when embodied in a handbag they constitute the mouth thereof. Springs 13 function to urge the channeled members apart or away from one another.

Sides plates 14, 14 and top plates 15, 15 are secured to the channel member 10 and have the dual function of permitting ornamentations or coverings to be attached to the frame, and of locating the channel member 11 when the latter is in closed position, as may be seen from Figure 3, so that the channel members 10 and 11 always register securely and tightly when a bag containing them is closed. The usual lugs 16 are perforate and they are adapted to be engaged by a suitable handle (not shown).

Approximately midway along their lengths, in a lateral sense, the members 10, 11 are bent or deformed oppositely as may be clearly seen in Figure 2, and secured to the channel member 10 at the bent or deformed portion and lying between the top plates 15, 15, is a mounting plate 17, which in the present embodiment is somewhat ovate or elliptical in shape. The deformed portions of the members 10, 11 provide a free space into which a plunger 18 extends. This plunger is urged up- States Patent wardly by spring means 19 and its lower end is in the form of a retainer 20 which cooperates with a keyhole slot 21 in a catch 22 (see Figure 4, particularly) which is secured to and projects from the channel member 11. The plunger has a portion of reduced diameter just above the retainer 20 and this can pass into or out of the keyhole slot 21 of the catch 22 when the plunger 1% is depressed. When a bag in which my device is installed is normally closed, however, the retainer 20 engages into or with the larger diameter portion of the keyhole slot so that'the bag cannot be opened. Inclined portions 34 are provided on the catch 22, and the retainer 2t) rides down these when the bag is being closed, thereby obviating the necessity of depressing the plunger 18 during the act of closing the bag. However, it will be evident that it is necessary to depress the plunger 18 to bring the portion of reduced diameter into registration with the keyhole slot 21 before the channel members 111, 11 can be separated.

Supported on the underside of the mounting plate 17 by means of pillars 23 of insulating material is a bulb support or socket into which is screwed a low voltage bulb 25, the brass electrode 26 of which is directly in alignment with and in the path of movement of the retainer 20. The pillars 23, of course, extend through the free space between the deformed portions of the channel members 10, 11, previously described herein. The bulb support or socket 24 is angular in cross-section (as best seen in Figure 3) for rigidity and has end plates 27, 28. The end plate 28 has secured to it a cup-shaped contact 29 into which the electrode 30 of a dry battery 31 of a known tubular type fits. The base of the battery 31 fits into a socket 32 secured to the channel member 10, there being a spring 33 in the socket 32 which urges the battery 31 towards the contact 29. It will be evident that the battery 31 can be removed by moving it toward the left, as viewed in Figure 1, against the urge of the spring 33 until the electrode 30 can be disengaged from the contact 29 so that fresh batteries can readily be fitted. The spring 33 connects the base of the battery 31 with the frame in a known manner to provide electrical continuity.

In the arrangement so far described, there is an electrical circuit from the electrode 30 of the battery to the casing of the bulb 25, but there is no circuit to the electrode 26 of the bulb. Such circuit can be completed, however, by depressing the plunger 18 until the retainer 20 engages the electrode 26 of the bulb, whereupon the circuit to the base of the battery 31 is made through the plunger 18, the channel member 10, the socket 32 and the spring 33, and the bulb 25 lights to illuminate the interior of the handbag. Thus, when the catch 22 is released by the depressing of the plunger 18 to open the bag, the interior of the latter is illuminated. The lamp goes off, of course, when the plunger 18 is released and the plunger can be depressed at any time when the bag is open.

The invention is, of course, not limited to the precise details of the foregoing description, which has been set forth merely as illustrating one form of the invention by way of example. Many variations may be made within the scope of the appended claim. The frame could be made of a non-conducting material, in which case sepa-- rate leads would have to be provided for connecting the lamp to the battery.

In the example illustrated, the plunger 18 and the retainer 2t! themselves effectively form a switch for the circuit between the lamp and the battery. This is by no means essential, as a separate switch could be provided which is operated by the movement of the plunger 18.

The lamp and battery could be positioned in the container in any convenient location, and need not necessarily be secured to the frame thereof.

I claim:

A frame for a handbag or the like comprising a pair of channeled members each generally in the form of an inverted U and having corresponding pairs of their open ends hinged together, engageable means carried by one of said members for securing said members together, depressible means mounted on the other of said members for disengagement from said first means when it is desired to open said handbag, a rigid support insulatedly carried on said other of said members in spaced apart relation to said depressible means, a socket on said support, a lamp in said socket having its base electrically connected to said support and having a free contact tip,

a cuplike receptacle rigidly carried on said support, a second cup-like receptacle on said other of said members spaced apart from and facing said first receptacle, and spring means in said second receptacle adapted to urge a dry cell battery into electrical contact With both said receptacles, and said depressible means being electrically connected to said second receptacle and adapted when depressed to establish contact With said free contact tip of said lamp.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,258,540 Cressaty Oct. 7, 1941. 2,288,493 Smith June 30, 1942 2,691,091 Straeter Oct. 5, 1954 

